Game box having a maze

ABSTRACT

A game box includes a game box having a maze as part of its structure. A game ball is adapted to traverse the maze from a start position to a finish position in response to manipulation of the game box by a player. A transparent top wall encloses the game ball within the game box and enables the maze and game ball to be viewed by the player. An opaque cover is selectively movable from a first position, wherein the maze and game ball may be viewed by the player, to a second position wherein the maze and game ball are hidden from the view of the player. A schematic representation of the maze is inscribed on the opaque cover and may be viewed by the player when the cover is in the second position to aid the player in manipulating the game ball from the start position to the finish position when the maze and game ball are hidden from view.

United States Patent Grant [54] GAME BOX HAVING A MAZE [75] Inventor: Perry J. Grant, Pacific Palisades,

Calif. A

[73] Assignee: Reuben B. Klamer d/b/a Reugen Klamer & Associates, Beverly Hills, Calif.

[22] Filed: May 20, 1971 21 App1.No.: 145,123

[52] U.S. Cl. ..273/113, 273/153 R [51] Int. Cl. ..A63f 7/114 [58] Field of Search ..273/109, 113,115, 273/116, 153 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,856 11/1914 Minns ..273/115 277,120 5/1883 Davenport .......273/109 456,826 7/1891 Jenne ..-273/l13 2,742,291 4/1956 Simon ..273/113 886,999 5/1908 Lowery ..273/l13 1,550,781 8/1925 Chapin ..273/113 3,627,316 12/1971 Machinski ..273/109X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 463,624 8/1928 Germany ..273/113 Primary Examiner Ant0n O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerArnold W. Kramer l4 torney--Amster & Rothstein [57] ABSTRACT A game box includes a game box having a maze as part of its structure. A game ball is adapted to traverse the maze from a start position to a finish position in response to manipulation of the game box by a player. A transparent top wall encloses the game ball within the game box and enables the maze and game ball to be viewed by the player. An opaque cover is selectively movable from a first position, wherein the maze and game ball may be viewed by the player, to a second position wherein the maze and game ball are hidden from the view of the player. A schematic representation of the maze is inscribed on the opaque cover and may be viewed by the player when the cover is in the second position to aid the player in manipulating the game ball from the start position to the finish position when the maze and game ball are hidden from view.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY' 81973 3.731.933

'INVENTOR. PERRY J GRANT A TTORNEYS GAME BOX nxvnsc A MAZE The present invention relates generally to toys and, more particularly, to a game box.

Childrens skill games preferably provide a child with individual challenge while permitting competition between a number of players. The game should include a sufficient variety and excitement to maintain a childs interest, but the game rules must be easily learned and remembered. The game should also require manual dexterity as well as intellectual stimulation of the child. It is also important that the skill games be simple in construction, relatively indestructible and preferably inexpensive to manufacture.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game with increased play value for holding the attention of a child.

Another object of the invention is to provide game apparatus which is simple and inexpensive to construct and relatively indestructible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game which challenges a child's manual dexterity and mental, visual and tactile prowess.

A game demonstrating objects and features of the present invention includes a game box having a bottom wall and side walls extending upwardly therefrom to define a playing field having start and finish positions.

, Upstanding walls connected to the bottom wall define a maze adapted to be traversed by a game ball which is disposed within the game box and whose removal from the playing field is prevented by a transparent top wall which covers the playing field. An opaque cover is hingedly attached to an upper edge of a side wall of the game box and movable between a second position wherein the maze is substantially hidden from the view of a player to a first position wherein the maze is exposed to the players view. The object of the game is to manipulate the game box to facilitate traversal of the game ball from the start to the finish positions of the playing field with the opaque cover in the second position hiding the maze from view. The opaque cover may be moved to its first position to expose the maze to view thereby indicating the location of the game ball and facilitating manipulation of the game box to achieve traversal of the game ball in the maze.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bemore fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top, plan view of a game box according to the present invention showing the maze and playing field exposed to the view of a player with the opaque cover in its first position;

FIG. 2 is a top, plan view, similar to FIG. l, but showing the maze and playing field hidden from the view of a player with the opaque cover in its second position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional, elevational view of the game box of FIG. 2 taken along the line 3-3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional, elevational view of a portion of the game box of FIG. 2 taken along the line 4-4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate the same or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a game box according to the present invention is generally designated 10. The game box 10 includes a bottom wall 12 and side walls 18 defining a generally flat playing field 14 on the upper surface of the bottom wall. Side walls 18 extend upwardly from bottom wall 12 of the game box, perpendicularly to bottom wall 12 at the outer limits thereof. Upright walls 20 extend upwardly from and perpendicularly to playing field 14 and define as shown in FIG. 1, a maze 22, the playing field 14 having a start position 24 and a finish position 26 for the maze, which are advantageously labelled on playing field 14.

A spherical game ball 28, such as a marble or the like, is disposed within game box 10 and is adapted to traverse maze 22 from start position 24 to finish position 26 by manipulation of game box 10 by a player. Game ball 28 is kept within game box 10 by a transparent top wall 30 which, in conjunction with bottom wall 12 and side walls 18, encloses game ball 28 within playing field l4 and prevents the game ball from escaping the confines of game box 10. As more clearly indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, transparent cover 30 rests on or abuts shoulders 32 defined by side walls 18 at the upper edges thereof. This facilitates the permanent attachment of transparent top wall 30 to side walls 18 of game box 10.

Game box 10 further includes an opaque cover 34 which is hingedly connected to the upper edge of one of the side walls 18' of the game box to allow the opaque cover to be selectively moved between an open first position, indicated in FIG. 1, and a closed second position, indicated in FIG. 2. Opaque cover 34 includes a hinge member 36 disposed at the outer periphery of the opaque cover along an edge thereof corresponding to side wall H8. The hinge member 36 cooperates with the bearing member 37 fixed at the top of side wall 18' and pin 35 to provide a hinged connection of opaque cover 34 and the main body of game box 10. Depending ridge 39 of opaque cover 34 is adapted to seat opaque cover 34 on side walls 18 overlying the transparent top wall 30 when opaque cover 34 is in a closed position.

As indicated in FIG. 1, when opaque cover 34 is in an open first position, playing field 14, maze 22 and game ball 28 are all exposed to view through transparent top wall 30. However, when opaque cover 34 is in the closed second position, indicated in FIG. 2, substantially all of playing field l4 and maze 22 are hidden from the view of a player. Only start position 24 and finish position 26 are at that time exposed to the player's view and game ball 28 will be exposed to view only if the game ball is located at the start or finish positions on playing field M.

With opaque cover 34 in the closed position of FIG. 2, a schematic representation of maze 22, obscured by the closed opaque cover, is exposed to view is inscribed upon the upper surface 38 defined by opaque cover 34. This schematic representation of maze 22, which may be thought of as being analogous to a road map" for game ball 28, is formed by upstanding ridges 40 which extend upwardly from upper surface 38 of the opaque cover. The ridges 40 may advantageously be painted or otherwise colored a different color than upper surface 38 to facilitate the schematic representation of maze 22 formed by the ridges. Furthermore, the desired path of traversal of game ball 28 from start position 24 to finish position 26 is indicated on upper surface 38 of opaque cover 34 by arrows 42 which are painted or otherwise formed on the upper surface 38 of the opaque cover.

In order to provide a more complete understanding of the present invention, a brief description of a playing sequence utilizing the game box will now be described.

Referring to FIG. 2, at the start of the game, game ball 28 is positioned at start position 24 and opaque cover 34 is closed so that only start position 24 and finish position 26 are within view ofa player.

A player then manipulates the game box in his hands and, by tilting or otherwise moving the game box, attempts to roll game ball 28 from start position 24 to finish position 26 through the maze. However, once game ball 28 moves from start position 24, the game ball, maze and playing field are hidden from the players view and the player only has the schematic representation or road map of the maze on the opaque cover to direct the correct manipulation of the game box.

If the player needs help in ascertaining the location of game ball 28 in order to correctly manipulate the game box, the player is free to open opaque cover 34, as indicated in FIG. 1, and peek" at the playing field for a few seconds. However, each time a player opens cover 34 to ascertain the location of game ball 28, a predetermined number of points is taken off his score. For example, if a player can tilt or manipulate game box and enable game ball 28 to traverse maze 22 from start position 24 to finish position 26 without the need of opening the opaque cover to see the location of the game ball, he is awarded a predetermined number of points, for example, 100 points. For each required look or peek to ascertain the location of the game ball, a predetermined number of points, for example, 10 points is subtracted from the possible score of 100. Therefore, if a player requires five peeks in order for game ball 28 to traverse maze 22, the score will be reduced from a possible score of 100 points to a score of 50 points.

An overall time limit for a players turn may be imposed, for example, a 3 minute time limit may be set. Thus, a player not only manipulates game box 10 to enable game ball 28 to traverse maze 22 but the player must do so within the time limit; that is, the player must also race the clock. Each peek or look not only costs points but also takes time and may result in a player not being able to finish within the time limit.

After a player has manipulated game box 10 thereby enabling game ball 28 to traverse maze 22, the game ball 28 is then manipulated back to the starting position 24 (which may be facilitated by opening cover 34), the opaque cover is closed, and another player starts his turn. A comparison of scores of all players at the end of a completed playing sequence determines the winner of the game.

In accordance with the above description, a game box is provided which enables competition for children, challenges their mental and physical capabilities and their ability to visually remember the location of objects. The material for the game box of the present invention is advantageously composed of any rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic. One advantage in forming the game box of a molded plastic is that such material transmits the vibrations produced by the rolling game ball in the game box. This results in spurious tactile signals which are transmitted to a player manipulating the game box. This tactile stimulation provides yet another dimension of enjoyment to a player.

It is to be understood that the above-described game and game box are merely examples of the application of the principles of the present invention. Further embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as delineated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A game box for use with a game ball by at least one player comprising a bottom wall, side walls upwardly extending from said bottom wall, said bottom wall and side walls defining a playing field having a start position and a finish position, walls disposed within said game box defining a maze adapted to be traversed by said game ball from said start position to said finish position, and an opaque cover for said game box selectively movable between a first position wherein said playing field is exposed to view of said player and a second position wherein said playing field is substantially hidden from view of said player, said opaque cover defining a corresponding representation of said maze which corresponding representation is displayed to the view of said player when said opaque cover is in said second position, said representation of said maze overlying and corresponding to said maze when said opaque cover is in said second position with said opaque cover substantially hiding said maze from view.

2. A game box according to claim 1 further comprising a transparent top wall for said game box coupled to said side walls and disposed beneath said opaque cover when said opaque cover is in said second position, said transparent top wall being adapted to confine said game ball within said game box.

3. A game box according to claim 1 wherein said start position and said finish position are exposed to the view of said player when said opaque cover is in said second position.

4. A game box according to claim 1 wherein said opaque cover includes a hinge member for hingedly attaching said opaque cover to one of said side walls of said game box to allow movement of said opaque cover from said first position to said second position.

5. A game for use with a game ball for use by at least one player comprising a game box having a maze formed therein wherein said game ball is adapted to traverse said maze when said game box is manipulated by said player, said game box including an opaque cover selectively movable between a first position wherein said maze is exposed to view of said player and a second position wherein said maze is hidden from view of said player, said opaque cover including indicia on one surface thereof which defines a corresponding representation of said maze which representation overlies and corresponds to said maze and is displayed to the view of said player when said opaque cover is in said second position substantially hiding said maze from view.

6. A game according to claim 5 wherein said game box includes a transparent cover adapted to confine said game ball within said game box.

7. A game according to claim 5 wherein said game box includes a game ball. 5 

1. A game box for use with a game ball by at least one player comprising a bottom wall, side walls upwardly extending from said bottom wall, said bottom wall and side walls defining a playing field having a start position and a finish position, walls disposed within said game box defining a maze adapted to be traversed by said game ball from said start position to said finish position, and an opaque cover for said game box selectively movable between a first position wherein said playing field is exposed to view of said player and a second position wherein said playing field is substantially hidden from view of said player, said opaque cover defining a corresponding representation of said maze which corresponding representation is displayed to the view of said player when said opaque cover is in said second position, said representation of said maze overlying and corresponding to said maze when said opaque cover is in said second position with said opaque cover substantially hiding said maze from view.
 2. A game box according to claim 1 further comprising a transparent top wall for said game box coupled to said side walls and disposed beneath said opaque cover when said opaque cover is in said second position, said transparent top wall being adapted to confine said game ball within said game box.
 3. A game box according to claim 1 wherein said start position and said finish position are exposed to the view of said player when said opaque cover is in said second position.
 4. A game box according to claim 1 wherein said opaque cover includes a hinge member for hingedly attaching said opaque cover to one of said side walls of said game box to allow movement of said opaque cover from said first position to said second position.
 5. A game for use with a game ball for use by at least one player comprising a game box having a maze formed therein wherein said game ball is adapted to traverse said maze when said game box is manipulated by said player, said game box including an opaque cover selectively movable between a first position wherein said maze is exposed to view of said player and a second position wherein said maze is hidden from view of said player, said opaque cover including indicia on one surface thereof which defines a corresponding representation of said maze which representation overlies and corresponds to said maze and is displayed to the view of said player when said opaque cover is in said second position substantially hiding said maze from view.
 6. A game according to claim 5 wherein said game box includes a transparent cover adapted to confine said game ball within said game box.
 7. A game according to claim 5 wherein said game box includes a game ball. 